[Spirit of Lust 2] Chapters 378 & 379. (Patreon)

Chapter 378: Intermission - Bowling.

Diana sat there, watching along with Oliver and Thomas as Maria took her turn. With perfect form, she sent the ball rolling smoothly down the middle of the lane, ending in a strike that resonated throughout the alley.

“Hah!” Maria turned around and gave the group a thumbs up with a smug grin. Diana sighed and shook her head.

“Can’t you hold back a bit? We’re playing with newbies, you know?” Thomas told Maria.

“Nope. I know your game. I won’t let you catch up to me,” Maria answered, her grin intact.

“Holding back is bad manners, anyway,” Oliver said as he stood up to take his turn.

Diana swallowed as her heart skipped a beat. She was about to say the exact same thing. “Winning against someone who held back feels empty, and losing to someone who didn't try their best is even worse,” she added.

Oliver smiled, nodded silently and went to pick a ball. It didn’t take much to notice he truly was completely new to the game. He picked whatever ball was closest to him and had no technique in his throws. To give credit, though, he was actually rolling the ball down the lane instead of tossing it like a rock.

This was his fourth time delivering, and just like previously, he took his time. He rolled the ball, but halfway through, its spin guided it to the left and into the gutter. Oliver remained with a score of zero pins. He frowned, closing and opening his hand, then tried again.

“Maybe this was a bad idea,” Maria said, wincing. “I don’t want him to get frustrated.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Thomas said, smirking. “If anything, frustration fuels him.”

Diana kept her eyes on his back and watched him try again. This time, the ball had less spin and remained in the lane, knocking down four pins on the left side.

“There you go!” Maria praised, but Oliver didn’t look satisfied. Still, he let out a soft breath and went back to his seat while Diana stood up.

“That was better,” she told him as she walked past.

“I think I’m starting to get it,” he answered with a small nod.

So far, Maria was in the lead with Thomas close behind her. Oliver was completely new to this, so he was understandably in last place, and Diana was comfortably in the middle, being a very casual, average player. After all, one can’t be good at everything, and the weight of the bowling balls was always an issue for her wrists.

As she picked her ball and got ready to throw, she managed to overhear Thomas talking. He tried to whisper, but the sound of other people in the area and the contact knocking of pins falling forced him to speak up ever so slightly.

“So? How are you doing?” he asked with a hint of concern.

“Like I said, I’m getting the hang of it,” Oliver answered.

“Not that.”

Diana tensed up. They were behind her, but she could imagine Thomas nodding towards her.

Oliver chuckled. “Focus on the game or I’ll overtake you.”

“Hah. You wish.”

Diana let out a sigh disguised and breathing to focus.

She felt uncomfortable here, but not through fault of any of them. She just… felt like the odd one out. Oliver was best friends with Thomas, Thomas was Maria’s boyfriend, and Maria and Oliver worked together. Compared to that, Diana was only really comfortable around Maria. But even so…

She focused her own frustrations into the ball and threw them away with it. Whether that had anything to do with her scoring a strike, she didn’t know, but it happened all the same.

“Oh wow,” Maria exclaimed, giving her two thumbs up. “Nice one.”

Diana went back to her seat and Thomas stood up a little too quickly. He also didn’t meet her eyes, not just that time, but every time they crossed paths. She could tell he found it uncomfortable to be around her, too.

Since Thomas’ spot was next to Maria, Diana had been sitting down opposite to them and next to Oliver. It was clear that was their friends’ intention from the start, and Diana… didn’t really have any objections.

“So you two played a lot while in university?” Oliver asked, sparing them the awkward silence.

“Yeah, because I dragged Diana here along with my other friends,” Maria said, laughing. “Bowling with just two people is the worst. It’s barely any different to playing by yourself. With three or more, you can get to talking while someone else is taking their turn.”

“Ah. So that’s how it is…” Oliver said, understanding Maria’s train of thought.

“Bowling is, like, the only thing I can beat Diana at, though.”

“Really?” Oliver turned to her, eyes filled with curiosity. “Did you play other games or sports?”

“...Not really. We did play tennis for a couple of years,” Diana said, remembering.

“I was awful at it, but it was fun, so I kept at it until I injured my leg,” Maria said. “You were really good, though. You should’ve kept at it. The coach said you might make it as a pro.”

“You know I never cared about going pro.”

“Right.” Maria turned to Oliver with a grin. “Diana wants to have her own bar.”

“Her own bar?” Oliver’s eyes seem to shine at that. “That’s cool. What kind of bar?”

With a small smile, Diana opened her mouth to speak, but Thomas came back muttering a curse. “Dammit, another spare…! I’m never gonna catch up at this rate!”

Diana turned to look at him along with everyone else, but it was when his eyes accidentally met hers that he flinched and winced.

“Y-Your turn, Maria…” he said with an awkward smile.

Maria stood up, poked her boyfriend on the cheek and sang “You suuuck!” with innocent laughter.

Thomas swallowed and sat down. “S-So… What were you talking about?”

…Was she scowling again? She didn’t think she was, but she looked away regardless. “Nothing in particular.”

She just couldn’t act natural, could she? She felt stiff, awkward and anxious. She wasn’t blind. She could clearly see that Oliver was trying to make her feel at ease, and it meant the world to her, but she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable regardless.

…

No, that wasn’t it.

It was the little things, but so far… The things he said, the way he acted… Diana began to understand what Maria meant. She began to see that she, maybe, truly could click with Oliver beyond a mere first attraction.

Their mutual appreciation for punctuality, for challenges… Like they were on the same wavelength. The way he was so upfront yet proper about the subject of his other girlfriends. The way he spoke in a tone that… seemed to understand her worries, always answering with a smile and never looking away from her.

It was still just a hunch, but one slowly made stronger by these little things.

…

Diana didn’t want to mess this up, and those same nerves made her scowl and look away.

Always the same damn story.

************

Chapter 379: Intermission - The arcade.

The game ended as expected. Maria came in first, Thomas second, Diana third and Oliver last. However, it should be noted that Oliver scored three strikes in a row in his last attempts.

“Pure luck,” Thomas told him teasingly.

“Yes, but they were in a row, which is more than what you can say,” Oliver easily deflected. It got a silent chuckle out of Diana.

“It’s still early,” Maria said, looking at her phone. “What do you all want to do now?”

“Should we get something to eat?” Thomas suggested. “I hear the restaurant on the floor below is good.”

Diana had a feeling that if they went to eat, the date would be over when they were done. Stomachs full and the high possibility of awkward silences tended to lead people to prefer going home than carrying on. And… Diana didn’t want this to be over yet, at least not until she could… do something.

“How about the arcade?” she suggested.

Oliver’s eyes shone for a split second, but then he grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know. I’m up for it, but would you all enjoy it?”

“Sure, let’s go,” Maria said. “Thomas can destroy the basketball machine and get me a prize.”

“Uff, there’s suddenly a lot of pressure on my shoulders,” the big man said, laughing. “But yeah, let’s do it.”

Oliver looked at Diana with a small smile. “Are you sure?”

“...I suggested it, right?”

Emotion, dammit! Emotion! Why did she have to sound like she didn’t care? The tips of her fingers felt cold, and though her heart didn’t beat painfully fast, there was still a constant pressure in her chest. She needed to relax, she knew, but it was so damn hard…

The group of four went into the arcade area, instantly feeling the shift in atmosphere. It was loud, far louder than the bowling area. The sound effects and music of dozens of different game machines all at once on top of the noise of people playing in the basketball machines, the air hockey tables and punching bags. Blue colored lights lit the area and got mixed with red and purple in places. It almost looked more like a nightclub than it did an arcade, but Diana had only ever been to a few of either in her life, so not like she knew much.

“What, you’ve never been here before?” Thomas asked the wide-eyed Oliver.

“Ah? Oh, no, I have. Just haven’t been here in like three years. I’m glad it’s still here.”

“So? What do we play?” Maria asked.

“Is there anything four people can play at the same time?” Diana asked.

“Mmm…” Oliver looked around until his eyes fell on four cabinets resembling car seats, all next to each other. “We could play a racing game.”

Diana had never played, and she doubted Maria had, either, but Oliver went bowling when he didn’t know how. And besides, they knew how to drive. How hard could it be?

Answer: very hard.

They all bought separate cards, sat down at the cabinets and started the game as per instructions. It handled nothing like a real car, at least not when it came to physics. It was too light, too fast and too slippery.

Oliver won the race by a large margin. Thomas came in second while Maria and Diana couldn’t even finish the race before time ran out.

“Holding back is bad manners, was it?” Thomas said, sighing. “You can hold back a bit, you know? I wouldn’t mind.”

“Sorry,” Oliver said, smiling wryly. “Let’s play something else.”

Diana licked her lips, adjusted her position on her seat and readjusted her grip on the wheel. “I’d like to try again, if you don’t mind.”

Oliver smiled. “Would you like some tips?”

Diana nodded. “Yes.”

“It may not look like it, but cars in these games have more grip than they would in real life, so you can push them a little harder. Also, since it’s a race, don’t be afraid to use the whole track instead of just sticking to the proper lane.”

Oh. Yeah, she had been doing that, huh? She tried to drive like she would on the road, not in a game.

They played four more times, with Oliver giving them all tips in between races. It didn’t really change the results, but Diana did manage to finish the race instead of getting timed out in the last one.

She smiled. “That’ll do for now.”

“Yeah, that was a lot better,” Oliver said.

“I even improved my time every race,” Thomas said. “Thanks, coach.”

“I hate video games…” Maria pouted.

“You hate losing, that’s what,” Thomas told her.

Yeah, she did.

They played a few more games. Some air hockey, something where they shot zombies popping up on the screen with toy guns, and even some ticket games. Thomas really was good at the basketball game, she had to admit.

“I need to use the restroom now. You?” Maria asked Diana.

She didn’t have to, actually, but she nodded nonetheless.

“We’ll be waiting here,” Thomas said.

The two women went to the ladies restroom inside the arcade area. It was empty, thankfully. They did their business in silence, and it was as they washed their hands that Maria spoke up.

“You’re doing well.”

Diana flinched. “...Am I? It doesn’t feel like it.”

“Well, yeah, Thomas is a bit afraid of you,” she chuckled. “Works for me, though. Can’t have him falling for you.”

Diana snickered. “I suppose.”

“Oliver, however, hasn’t batted an eye at that scowl of yours. Not that you’re glaring much at him, actually. So? What do you think so far?”

“...” Diana bit her lip. “I’m… not sure. I mean, I’m starting to see what you meant by thinking we would click, and I… agree, but that only makes me more stiff.”

“Maybe it’s time for Thomas and I to bow out?” Maria suggested. “Oliver’s been more outgoing than I thought he would be. I think the ice is broken, and what you now need is alone time.”

Diana swallowed. “I don’t know…”

“Look, I’m not gonna force you. This date can end whenever you want. If you really think dating is not what you need right now, that’s fine. Just make sure you don’t leave anything unfinished.”

Ugh. Like Diana could leave things unfinished. “Fine. Fine.” She sighed as a chill ran through her body. “Dammit, I feel like I’m 14 all over again. So… clumsy, nervous and awkward.”

“Yeah, I can see it. I know it’s the last thing you want to hear, but you need to relax. It’s good that he can see past your nerves and anxiety, but if you keep that up, he won’t get to know the calm Diana.”

“I know.”

“I’ll go check the prize shop and you go back to the boys. Tell Thomas I called him. Then we’ll leave and you two can do whatever you want.”

Diana nodded.

They put the little plan in action immediately, parting ways outside the restroom with casual goodbyes. Diana made her way to the spot where the boys had been and still were. However, as she approached, she overheard something that chilled her bones. 

“Dude, are you sure about her? She scares the hell out of me,” Thomas said.

With her heart in her throat, Diana decided to hide behind a cabinet and listen.